LEXINGTON, Ky. — If Kentucky’s defense does not improve in 2017, it won't be due to a lack of experience on the coaching staff.

UK coach Mark Stoops, a former defensive coordinator at Arizona and Florida State, has hired former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Jancek as a defensive analyst. The position does not include on-field coaching responsibilities. A UK spokeswoman confirmed the hire.

Jancek joins a UK defensive staff that already includes three assistants with coordinator experience. This offseason, Stoops promoted inside linebackers coach Matt House, who previously served as a defensive coordinator at Pittsburgh and Florida International, to lead the defense. Defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale served as co-defensive coordinator at Cincinnati before coming to Kentucky. Outside linebackers coach Dean Hood previously worked as a defensive coordinator at Wake Forest and head coach at Eastern Kentucky.

Jancek spent the 2016 season as safeties coach on former Western Kentucky coach Willie Taggart’s South Florida staff but did not follow Taggart to Oregon this offseason.

He previously worked as defensive coordinator at Tennessee (2013-15), Cincinnati (2010-12) and Georgia (2009). Jancek boasts small-school coordinator experience at Central Michigan (2003-05), Grand Valley State (1999-2003), Hillsdale College (1996-99) and Wayne State (1992-95). He spent five seasons at Georgia as linebackers coach before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator during his last season in Athens.

Email Jon Hale at jahale@courier-journal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JonHale_CJ.